Jean Baptiste Vuillaume
Encyclopedia
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
violin maker. He made over 3,000 instruments and was also a fine businessman and an inventor.
Early life
Born to a MirecourtMirecourt
Mirecourt is a commune in the Vosges department in Lorraine in northeastern France. Mirecourt is known for lace-making and the manufacture of musical instruments, particularly those of the violin family...
family since both his grandfather and his father were engaged in the same trade, Jean-Baptiste Vuillaume arrived in Paris in 1818 to work for François Chanot.
In 1821, he joined the workshop of Simon Lété, François-Louis Pique's son-in-law, Rue Pavée St. Sauveur. He became his partner and in 1825 settled in the Rue Croix des Petits-Champs under the name of "Lété et Vuillaume". His first labels are dated 1823.
First period
Beginning in 1827, at the height of the Neo-Gothic period when many artists were drawing their inspiration from 15th and 16th century cathedrals and monuments, and in order to satisfy the demand of virtuosi and amateurs for great 18th century Italian violin makers, he started to imitate old instruments. Some copies were so perfect that, at that time, it was difficult even for a discerning eye to tell the difference.In 1827, he won a silver medal at the Paris Universal Exhibition. The following year, in 1828, he set his own business at 46 Rue Croix des Petits-Champs and began creating his own models.
Second period
His workshop then became the most important in the capital. Within barely twenty years, it became the leading workshop in Europe. A major factor in his success was doubtless his purchase of 144 instruments made by the most celebrated Italian masters, including 24 Stradivari and the famous Messiah StradivariusMessiah Stradivarius
The Messiah-Salabue Stradivarius of 1716 is a violin made by Italian luthier Antonio Stradivari of Cremona. It is considered to be the only Stradivarius in existence in as new state....
presently kept at the Ashmolean Museum
Ashmolean Museum
The Ashmolean Museum on Beaumont Street, Oxford, England, is the world's first university museum...
in Oxford University, from the heirs of an Italian tradesman named Luigi Tarisio
Luigi Tarisio
This page refers to the violin dealer and collector. For the online string instrument auction house, see Tarisio Auctions.Luigi Tarisio was an Italian violin dealer and collector....
, for 80,000 francs in 1855.
Vuillaume was former owner of the Stradivarius "Dolphin" before Jascha Heifetz
Jascha Heifetz
Jascha Heifetz was a violinist, born in Vilnius, then Russian Empire, now Lithuania. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest violinists of all time.- Early life :...
and Akiko Suwanai
Akiko Suwanai
is a Japanese classical violinist.She was the youngest winner of the International Tchaikovsky Competition in 1990. In addition, she won second place in the Queen Elisabeth Music Competition in 1989 and is a laureate of the International Japan Competition.She has studied with Toshiya Eto at the...
.
Third period
In 1858, in order to avoid paying the capital's custom-duties on his wood imports, he settled at Rue Pierre Demours, near the Ternes, which were outside Paris at the time.He was then at the height of success, having won various gold medals in the Competitions of the popular Paris Universal Exhibitions in 1839, 1844 and 1855, the Council Medal in London in 1851 and, in that same year, the Legion of Honour. His third period, the Golden Period, continued until his death.
Instruments
A maker of more than 3,000 instruments—almost all of which are numbered—and a fine tradesman, Jean-Baptiste Vuillaume was also a gifted inventor, as his research in collaboration with the acoustics expert Savart demonstrates. As an innovator, he developed many new instruments and mechanisms, most notably a large viola that he called a "contralto", and the three-string Octobass
Octobass
The octobass is an extremely large bowed string instrument constructed about 1850 in Paris by the French luthier Jean Baptiste Vuillaume...
(1849–51), a huge triple bass standing 3.48 metres high.
He also created the hollow steel bow (particularly appreciated by Charles de Bériot, among others), and the ‘self-rehairing’ bow. For the latter, the hair purchased in prepared hanks, could be inserted by the player in the time it takes to change a string, and was tightened or loosened by a simple mechanism inside the frog. The frog itself was fixed to the stick, and the balance of the bow thus remained constant when the hair stretched with use.
He also designed a round-edged frog mounted to the butt by means of a recessed track, which he encouraged his bowmakers to use; other details of craft, however, make it possible to identify the actual maker of many Vuillaume bows. The bows are stamped, often rather faintly, either vuillaume à paris or j.b. vuillaume.
Other innovations include the insertion of Stanhopes
Stanhope (optical bijou)
Stanhopes or Stanho-scopes are optical devices that enable the viewing of microphotographs without using a microscope. They were invented by René Dagron in 1857. Dagron bypassed the need for an expensive microscope to view the microscopic photographs by attaching the microphotograph at the end of a...
in the eye of the frogs of his bows, a kind of mute (the "pédale sourdine") and several machines, including one for manufacturing gut strings of perfectly equal thickness.
Most Great Bow Makers of the 19th century collaborated with his workshop including Jean Pierre Marie Persois
Jean Pierre Marie Persois
Jean Pierre Marie Persoit [Persois] - was a great and intriguing French bowmaker or Archetier.One of the first bowmakers to be hired by the young Jean Baptiste Vuillaume....
, Jean Adam / bow maker, Dominique Peccatte
Dominique Peccatte
Dominique Peccatte was an influential French luthier and bow maker. He was apprenticed in Mirecourt and later worked with Jean Baptiste Vuillaume....
, Nicolas Remy Maire
Nicolas Remy Maire
Nicolas Rémy Marie was an illustrious French Archetier - Bow Maker.He trained in the Lafleur workshop and served his apprenticeship in the workshop of Pajeot in Mirecourt. Maire's style remained close to that of Pajeot.He opened his own workshop in Mirecourt in 1826 and left in 1853 to work in...
, François Peccatte
François Peccatte
François Peccatte was a very talented and excellent archetier / bow maker who was destined for greatness, but he died at the age of 34 before he was able to reach the height of his craft...
, Nicolas Maline
Nicolas Maline
Nicolas Maline was a luthier and an archetier/bow maker.He was apprenticed in Mirecourt and worked for Etienne Pajeot, J.B...
, Pierre Simon
Pierre Simon
Pierre Simon , later known as Paul Simon, was a French archetier/bowmaker.Became one of the most important makers of his time. He worked in Paris for Peccatte, Vuillaume and Gand Frères. In 1847 he purchased Dominique Peccatte's business. His bows have 2 distinct head models, one his own and the...
, François Nicolas Voirin
François Nicolas Voirin
François Nicolas Voirin was a French Archetier , known in his time as the "Modern Tourte."F.N. Voirin was born in Paris France, the brother of Joseph Voirin and cousin to Jean Baptiste Vuillaume...
, Charles Peccatte
Charles Peccatte
Charles Peccatte was a French Archetier . He was born in Mirecourt, the son of François Peccatte.He was probably trained by August Lenoble with whom he later had a partnership which lasted until 1881....
, Charles Claude Husson
Charles Claude Husson
Charles Claude Husson - in Mirecourt was an influential French Archetier / bow maker.Charles Claude HUSSON was the son of Charles Claude Nicolas HUSSON, a bowmaker/ Archetier....
, Joseph Fonclause
Joseph Fonclause
Joseph Fonclause was a French archetier /bow maker.He was trained by Dominique Peccatte in Mirecourt and in 1820 went to Paris to work for Lupot, Tourte and Vuillaume....
, Jean Joseph Martin
Jean Joseph Martin
Jean Joseph Martin - was a French Archetier / Bowmaker.Served his apprenticeship with Nicolas Remy Maire.In 1858 left Mirecourt for Paris to join Jean-Baptiste Vuillaume's workshop...
, Prosper Colas
Prosper Colas
Prosper Colas was a French archetier / bow maker based in Mirecourt, France.Born in Goincourt in 1842, he apprenticed locally, and was influenced by the late Dominique Peccatte school ....
are among the most celebrated.
Jean-Baptiste Vuillaume was an innovative violin maker and restorer, and a tradesman who traveled all of Europe in search of instruments. Due to this fact, most instruments by the great Italian violin makers passed through his workshop. Vuillaume then made accurate measurements of their dimensions and made copies of them.
He drew his inspiration from two violin makers: Antonio Stradivari
Antonio Stradivari
Antonio Stradivari was an Italian luthier and a crafter of string instruments such as violins, cellos, guitars, violas, and harps. Stradivari is generally considered the most significant artisan in this field. The Latinized form of his surname, Stradivarius, as well as the colloquial, "Strad", is...
, his favorite violin being the "Le Messie (Messiah)
Messiah Stradivarius
The Messiah-Salabue Stradivarius of 1716 is a violin made by Italian luthier Antonio Stradivari of Cremona. It is considered to be the only Stradivarius in existence in as new state....
, and Giuseppe Guarneri del Gesù and the "Cannone" which belonged to Niccolò Paganini
Niccolò Paganini
Niccolò Paganini was an Italian violinist, violist, guitarist, and composer. He was one of the most celebrated violin virtuosi of his time, and left his mark as one of the pillars of modern violin technique...
; others such as Maggini
Giovanni Paolo Maggini
Giovanni Paolo Maggini , was a string maker born in Botticino , Italy. Maggini was a pupil of the most important violin maker of the Brescian school, Gasparo da Salò....
, Da Salò
Gasparo da Salò
Gasparo da Salò is the name given to Gasparo di Bertolotti, one of the earliest violin makers and expert double bass player of which many and very detailed historical records exist.He was born in Salò on Lake Garda, in a family with legal, artistic, musical and craft interests...
and Nicolò Amati
Nicolò Amati
Niccolò Amati was an Italian luthier from Cremona.-Biography:Nicolò Amati was the fifth son of Girolamo Amati and the grandson of Andrea Amati, the founder of the Amati Family of violin makers. Of all the Amati Family violins, those of Nicolò are often considered most suitable for modern playing...
were also imitated, but to a lesser extent.
Vuillaume made numerous copies of his favorite violin ‘Le Messie’, the more noteworthy among them being:
| Maker | Instrument Number | Date & place of manufacture | Comments | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| J.B. Vuillaume copy of Messiah Stradivari | #2236 | circa 1860, Paris | http://www.cozio.com/Luthier.aspx?id=263 | |
| J.B. Vuillaume copy of Messiah Stradivari | #2374 | circa 1861, Paris | http://www.cozio.com/Luthier.aspx?id=263 | |
| J.B. Vuillaume copy of Messiah Stradivari | #2455 | circa 1863, Paris | http://www.cozio.com | |
| J.B. Vuillaume copy of Messiah Stradivari | #2455 | circa 1863, Paris | http://www.cozio.com/Luthier.aspx?id=263 | |
| J.B. Vuillaume copy of Messiah Stradivari | #2509 | circa 1863 | It was sold off in auction after J.B.V.’s death. | http://www.cozio.com/Luthier.aspx?id=263 |
| J.B. Vuillaume copy of Messiah Stradivari | #2541 | circa 1864, Paris | http://www.cozio.com/Luthier.aspx?id=263 | |
| J.B. Vuillaume copy of Messiah Stradivari | 2556 | circa 1864, Paris | now to be found in the Musee d’Art in Geneve, with carved boxwood pegs and tail piece-the same which Vuillaume fitted to the original instrument. | http://www.cozio.com |
| J.B. Vuillaume copy of Messiah Stradivari | #2594 | circa 1865, Paris | http://www.cozio.com/Luthier.aspx?id=263 | |
| J.B. Vuillaume copy of Messiah Stradivari | A fine copy without number of the period 1868 | circa 1868, Paris ex-Jules Garcin Jules Garcin Jules Auguste, Garcin [Salomon] was an illustrious French violinist, conductor and composer of the 19th century.He was born in Bourges... |
After Jules Garcin, it belonged to David Laurie David Laurie David Laurie - was a distinguished 19th century violin collector .Born in 1833 in Netherton, Kinross-shire Scotland, was an only son... and then belonged to Wurlitzer Rembert Wurlitzer Co. Rembert Wurlitzer Co. was a distinguished firm in New York City that specialized in fine musical instruments and bows.Founded in Europe in 1856, the Wurlitzer Co. was a world-famous musical instrument company known for its many ateliers in the United States.... , and William Lewis and Son William Lewis and Son William Lewis & Son - was a distinguished firm in Chicago that specialized in fine musical instruments and bows.Established in 1874, stayed in the business for over 80 years.... of Chicago. |
ex-Garcin |
| J.B. Vuillaume copy of Messiah Stradivari | #2963 | circa 1873, Paris | http://www.cozio.com/Luthier.aspx?id=263 | |
It is said that Vuillaume was able to craft such a perfect replica of "Il Cannone", that upon viewing them side by side, Paganini was unable to tell which was the original. He was only able to recognize the master instrument upon hearing subtle differences in tone during playing.
The copy violin was eventually passed on to Paganini’s only student, Camillo Sivori
Camillo Sivori
Ernesto Camillo Sivori, was an Italian virtuoso violinist and composer.Born in Genoa, he was the only pupil of Paganini. He also studied with Restano, Giacomo Costa and Dellepiane....
. Sivori owned great violins by Nicolò Amati
Nicolò Amati
Niccolò Amati was an Italian luthier from Cremona.-Biography:Nicolò Amati was the fifth son of Girolamo Amati and the grandson of Andrea Amati, the founder of the Amati Family of violin makers. Of all the Amati Family violins, those of Nicolò are often considered most suitable for modern playing...
, Stradivari, and Bergonzi
Bergonzi
Carlo Bergonzi was an Italian luthier who apprenticed with Hieronymus Amati, collaborated with Joseph Guarneri, and is considered the greatest pupil of Antonio Stradivari....
, but the Vuillaume was his favourite.
When making these copies, Vuillaume always remained faithful to the essential qualities of the instruments he imitated - their thickness, the choice of the woods, and the shape of the arching. The only differences, always the result of a personal decision, were the colour of the varnish, the height of the ribs or the length of the instruments.
His most beautiful violins were often named after the people who owned them (Caraman de Chimay, Cheremetoff, Doria)
Vuillaume occasionally named his instruments: twelve were named after birds, for example the "Golden Pheasant", "The Thrush" and twelve were named after the apostles such as "St. Joseph". A few others were also named after important biblical characters "The Evangelists" and Millant, in his book on Vuillaume, mentions a "St. Nicholas."
A rare violin by Jean Baptiste Vuillaume (circa 1874, Paris) showcases inlaid ebony fleur-de-lys designs and is one of the last instruments to come out of Vuillaume's workshop, made a year before his death.
Crafted for the famous violin dealer David Laurie
David Laurie
David Laurie - was a distinguished 19th century violin collector .Born in 1833 in Netherton, Kinross-shire Scotland, was an only son...
, "Label reads: Jean Baptiste Vuillaume a Paris, 3 Rue Demour-Ternes, expres pour mon ami David Laurie, 1874", numbered 2976 and signed on the label.
It's a copy of a Nicolò Amati
Nicolò Amati
Niccolò Amati was an Italian luthier from Cremona.-Biography:Nicolò Amati was the fifth son of Girolamo Amati and the grandson of Andrea Amati, the founder of the Amati Family of violin makers. Of all the Amati Family violins, those of Nicolò are often considered most suitable for modern playing...
violin originally belonging to Prince Youssoupoff (a Russian aristocrat and pupil of Henri Vieuxtemps
Henri Vieuxtemps
Henri François Joseph Vieuxtemps was a Belgian composer and violinist. He occupies an important place in the history of the violin as a prominent exponent of the Franco-Belgian violin school during the mid-19th century....
). Only six copies were made.
He also had practice violins, known as "St Cecilia violins", made by his brother Nicolas de Mirecourt.
His main contribution to violin making was his work on varnish
Varnish
Varnish is a transparent, hard, protective finish or film primarily used in wood finishing but also for other materials. Varnish is traditionally a combination of a drying oil, a resin, and a thinner or solvent. Varnish finishes are usually glossy but may be designed to produce satin or semi-gloss...
. The purfling
Purfling
Purfling is a narrow binding inlaid into the edges of the top and often bottom plates of stringed instruments. Purfling serves to reinforce the plates and prevent cracking along their edges....
's joints are often cut on the straight and not on the bias as was traditional, in the middle in the pin. His brand is burnt at a length of 1 cm. There is generally a black dot on the joint of the top under the bridge. He used an external mould. The stop is generally 193 mm long. In this respect he follows to the French 18th century tradition of a short stop (190 mm), which was traditionally 195 mm long in Italy and even 200 mm long in Germany. The violin's serial number is inscribed in the middle inside the instrument. Its date (only the last two figures) in the upper paraph on the back. His violins of the first period have large edges and his brand was then burnt inside the middle bouts. The varnish varied from orange-red to red. After 1860, his varnish became lighter.
In addition to the above-mentioned bow makers, most 19th century Parisian violin makers worked in his workshop, including Hippolyte Silvestre, Jean-Joseph Honoré Derazey, Charles Buthod, Charles-Adolphe Maucotel, Télesphore Barbé and Paul Bailly.
Nestor Audinot, a pupil of Sébastien Vuillaume, himself Jean-Baptiste's nephew, succeeded him in his workshop in 1875. Vuillaume died at the height of his career, widely regarded as the pre-eminent luthier
Luthier
A luthier is someone who makes or repairs lutes and other string instruments. In the United States, the term is used interchangeably with a term for the specialty of each maker, such as violinmaker, guitar maker, lute maker, etc...
of his day.
Specimen Labels
- J.B. Vuillaume No. 4, Chez N.A. Lété rue Pavée-Saint-Sauveur no. 20 á Paris 1823
- Jean Baptiste Vuillaume á Paris, rue Croix des Petits Champs
- Jean Baptiste Vuillaume á Paris, 3 rue Demours-Ternes
The signature is usually followed by a doubly encircled JBV (J&B are joined). Early on, it was doubly encircled JBV. The labels at "Rue Croix Petits Champs" began using the doubly encircled JBV (J&B joined), which remained the same on "3 rue Demours-Ternes" labels.
Awards and medals
- In 1827, Silver medal at the National Paris exhibition of the Industrial work.
- In 1834, Silver medal at the Paris Universal Exhibition.
- In 1844 and 1849, Gold medal at the Paris Universal Exhibition.
- In 1851, Council medal at the International London Exhibition.
- In 1855, Gold medal at the Paris International Exhibition.
The Vuillaume family
- Jean Vuillaume – Ancestor of Jean-Baptiste. Apprenticed to Antonio StradivariAntonio StradivariAntonio Stradivari was an Italian luthier and a crafter of string instruments such as violins, cellos, guitars, violas, and harps. Stradivari is generally considered the most significant artisan in this field. The Latinized form of his surname, Stradivarius, as well as the colloquial, "Strad", is...
. His historicity is disputed as a fabrication of Jean-Baptiste who may have been trying to create a mythology of family descendants going far back to Italy. - Claude Vuillaume – The oldest family member, a lute maker
- Claude François Vuillaume I (1730–1770)
- Charles François Vuillaume (1755-1779 - particularly known for his workmanship and the mellow and responsive tone of his instruments
- Claude François Vuillaume II (1772–1834) - Father of the Jean-Baptiste.
- Charles-Francois Vuillaume II (born 1797) - Eldest son of Claude François Vuillaume II.
- Jean-Baptiste Vuillaume (1798–1875)
- Nicolas Vuillaume (1800–1871) – Third son of Claude François Vuillaume II. Made instruments of ‘trade’ quality under the brand of 'Stentor'.
- Nicolas François VuillaumeNicolas François VuillaumeNicholas François Vuillaume was an important French Luthier of the Vuillaume family, and younger brother of the illustrious Jean-Baptiste Vuillaume...
(1802–1876) – The fourth son of Claude François Vuillaume II. The most important luthier of the Vuillaume family next only to his brother Jean-Baptist. Established his own workshop, with a fine reputation, in Brussels. - Joseph François Vuillaume (1804–1856) – Worked in Mirecourt, then ParisParisParis is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, and finally LyonLyonLyon , is a city in east-central France in the Rhône-Alpes region, situated between Paris and Marseille. Lyon is located at from Paris, from Marseille, from Geneva, from Turin, and from Barcelona. The residents of the city are called Lyonnais....
. - Claude-François Vuillaume (1807–1853) - The fifth son of Claude François Vuillaume II, and father of Sébastien.
- Sébastian Vuillaume (1835–1875) Nephew of Jean-Baptiste, worked with his uncle during the golden period.
VILLAUME, GUSTAVE EUGÈNE Born at Mirecourt 1899. Pupil of Mougenot and Jacquent Gand.Workmanship and general appearance eminently qualify this maker as highly successful in Guarnerian modelling. Oil varnish typically of clear yellow to dark reddish-brown.
Violinists who have played Vuillaume instruments
- Charles Auguste de Bériot (1802–1870)
- Camillo SivoriCamillo SivoriErnesto Camillo Sivori, was an Italian virtuoso violinist and composer.Born in Genoa, he was the only pupil of Paganini. He also studied with Restano, Giacomo Costa and Dellepiane....
(1815–1894), played on a Vuillaume copy of Paganini's "Il Cannone" (which Paganini gave to him). - Ole BullOle BullOle Bornemann Bull was a Norwegian violinist and composer.-Background:Bull was born in Bergen. He was the eldest of ten children of Johan Storm Bull and Anna Dorothea Borse Geelmuyden . His brother, Georg Andreas Bull became a noted Norwegian architect...
(1810–1880) - Ferdinand DavidFerdinand David (musician)Ferdinand David was a German virtuoso violinist and composer.Born in the same house in Hamburg where Felix Mendelssohn had been born the previous year, David was raised Jewish but later converted to Christianity...
(1810–1873) - Jean-Delphin Alard (1815–1888)
- Henri VieuxtempsHenri VieuxtempsHenri François Joseph Vieuxtemps was a Belgian composer and violinist. He occupies an important place in the history of the violin as a prominent exponent of the Franco-Belgian violin school during the mid-19th century....
(1820–1881) c.1874 (now known as ex-Vieuxtemps) - Jules GarcinJules GarcinJules Auguste, Garcin [Salomon] was an illustrious French violinist, conductor and composer of the 19th century.He was born in Bourges...
(1830–1896) copy of "Le Messie" (Messiah) Stradivari 1868 without number. - Joseph JoachimJoseph JoachimJoseph Joachim was a Hungarian violinist, conductor, composer and teacher. A close collaborator of Johannes Brahms, he is widely regarded as one of the most significant violinists of the 19th century.-Origins:...
(1831–1907) - Sophie Humler (1842- ?) ex- Sophie Humler copy of Stradivari 1863
- Eugène YsaÿeEugène YsaÿeEugène Ysaÿe was a Belgian violinist, composer and conductor born in Liège. He was regarded as "The King of the Violin", or, as Nathan Milstein put it, the "tzar"...
(1858–1931) - Josef SukJosef Suk (composer)Josef Suk was a Czech composer and violinist.- Life :Suk was born in Křečovice. He studied at Prague Conservatory from 1885 to 1892, where he was a pupil of Antonín Dvořák and Antonín Bennewitz. In 1898, he married Dvořák's eldest daughter, Otilie Dvořáková , affectionately known as Otilka...
(1874–1935) - Jacques ThibaudJacques ThibaudJacques Thibaud was a French violinist.Thibaud was born in Bordeaux and studied the violin with his father before entering the Paris Conservatoire at the age of thirteen. In 1896 he jointly won the conservatory's violin prize with Pierre Monteux...
(1880–1953) - Jack BennyJack BennyJack Benny was an American comedian, vaudevillian, and actor for radio, television, and film...
(1894–1974) now known as the ex - Jack Benny 1845 - Nina Dolce (Georgina Springer) (1897-d.?) ex- Hamma 1828
- Fritz KreislerFritz KreislerFriedrich "Fritz" Kreisler was an Austrian-born violinist and composer. One of the most famous violin masters of his or any other day, he was known for his sweet tone and expressive phrasing. Like many great violinists of his generation, he produced a characteristic sound which was immediately...
(1875–1962) - Efrem ZimbalistEfrem ZimbalistEfrem Zimbalist, Sr. was one of the world's most prominent concert violinists, as well as a composer, teacher, conductor and a long-time director of the Curtis Institute of Music.-Early life:...
(1889–1985) - Naoum BlinderNaoum BlinderNaoum Blinder was a Russian-American virtuoso violinist and teacher, born in Yevpatoria .-Early life and education:...
(1889–1965) ex-Blinder 1845-50 - Toscha SeidelToscha SeidelToscha Seidel was a Russian virtuoso violinist, born in Odessa. A student of Leopold Auer in St. Petersburg, Seidel became known for a lush, romantic tone and unique and free rubato. In the 1930s he emigrated to the United States, making his way to Hollywood where he made a career in the studios...
(1899–1962) copy of the Alard Strad 1860 (now known as ex-Seidel) - Louis KaufmanLouis KaufmanLouis Kaufman was an American violinist and possibly the most recorded musical artist of the 20th century. He played the soundtrack on as many as 500 movies and over 100 musical recordings...
(1905–1994) copy of "La Pucelle" Stradivari #1489 c.1839 - Nathan Posner (collector Beverly Hills, California) ex-Chimay viola 1865 and ex-Sophie Humler 1863
- Pierre FournierPierre FournierPierre Fournier was a French cellist who was called the "aristocrat of cellists," on account of his elegant musicianship and majestic sound....
(1906–1986) ex- 'Count Doria' cello 1863 - Ruggiero RicciRuggiero RicciRuggiero Ricci is an Italian-American violinist known for performances and recordings of the works of Paganini. He was born in San Bruno, California. Ricci's brother was cellist and his sister Emma played violin with the New York Metropolitan Opera.He is the son of Italian immigrants. His...
(1918) - Adolph F. Schrader (Chicago), American, Violinist played on the ex-GarcinJules GarcinJules Auguste, Garcin [Salomon] was an illustrious French violinist, conductor and composer of the 19th century.He was born in Bourges...
1868 also another Strad copy of 1860 #2390 - Henryk SzeryngHenryk SzeryngHenryk Szeryng was a Polish violinist.-Early years:He was born in Żelazowa Wola, Poland on 22 September 1918 into a wealthy family....
(1918–1988) Messiah Strad copy which he gave to Prince Sovereign Rainier III of Monaco - Isaac SternIsaac SternIsaac Stern was a Ukrainian-born violinist. He was renowned for his recordings and for discovering new musical talent.-Biography:Isaac Stern was born into a Jewish family in Kremenets, Ukraine. He was fourteen months old when his family moved to San Francisco...
(1920–2001) A copy of the "Stern, ex Panette" Guarneri del Gesu of 1737 (circa 1850) also ex-Nicolas I of 1840 - Arthur GrumiauxArthur GrumiauxArthur Grumiaux was a Belgian violinist who was also proficient in piano.-Youth:Grumiaux was born in Villers-Perwin, Belgium to a working-class family, and it was his grandfather who urged him to begin music studies at the age of only 4...
(1921–1986) 1866 (now known as ex-Grumiaux ) now played by Jennifer Koh - Josef Hassid (1926–1950) ex-Kreisler (used by Josef HassidJosef HassidJosef Hassid was a Polish violinist.Born 28 December 1923 in Suwałki, Poland, as Joseph or Józef Chasyd, second youngest of four children, he lost his mother when he was ten and was brought up by his father Owseij who took charge of his career.After lessons with a local violin teacher he studied...
) - Patrice Fontanarosa (1942)
- Jean Etienne Drouet (1942–1990) ex- Drouet 1827 No.73" and labelled "Antonius Stradivarius Cremonensis Faciebat Anno 1706"
- Pinchas ZukermanPinchas ZukermanPinchas Zukerman is a world-renowned violinist, violist, and conductor. He is considered one of the greatest violinists of the 20th and 21st centuries, and his ongoing 45-year career has seen him perform with the world's best-known orchestras and record over 100 works...
(1948) Vuillaume Guarneri copy - Young-Uck Kim ex-Paganini ; ex KreislerFritz KreislerFriedrich "Fritz" Kreisler was an Austrian-born violinist and composer. One of the most famous violin masters of his or any other day, he was known for his sweet tone and expressive phrasing. Like many great violinists of his generation, he produced a characteristic sound which was immediately...
1860 - André RieuAndré RieuAndré Léon Marie Nicolas Rieu is a Dutch violinist, conductor, and composer best known for creating the waltz-playing Johann Strauss Orchestra.- Early life and studies :...
(1949) - Oliver Jaques (Zurich) ex-Nicolas I:ex-Isaac Stern 1840
- Stewart Eaton ( English, Violist) 'Count Doria' viola 1848
- Barry Hou ex- Zukerman
- Ingolf Turban (1964)
- Gennady Filimonov (196?) plays on the ex-GarcinJules GarcinJules Auguste, Garcin [Salomon] was an illustrious French violinist, conductor and composer of the 19th century.He was born in Bourges...
Vuillaume - Cihat Aşkın (1968)
- Chin KimChin kimChin Kim is a Korean-born American classical violinist, largely educated in the United States through the Juilliard School, and the Curtis Institute of Music.-Activities:...
(1957) plays on 1843 Stradivari model - Alexander Kerr (1970)
- Michael Jelden (1971)
- Tiffany Wu (1978)
- Hilary HahnHilary HahnHilary Hahn is an American violinist.Hahn was born in Lexington, Virginia. Beginning her studies when she was three years old at Baltimore's Peabody Institute, she was admitted to the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia at age ten, and in 1991, made her major orchestral debut with the...
(1979) plays on the ex- Lande of 1864 (copy of 'Il Cannone' Guarnerius of 1743) Hilary Hahn plays her Vuillaume on Danish TV - Catherine ManoukianCatherine ManoukianCatherine Manoukian is a Canadian violinist.-Background and Early Life:Catherine Manoukian was born in Toronto, Canada. She is from an ethnically diverse background, consisting of Armenian, Russian, German, and Japanese origins...
(1981), plays on the ex-Ysaÿe Vuillaume - Myvanwy Ella Penny (1984)
- Nemanja Radulovic (1985) plays a J.B. Vuillaume violin from 1843.
- Pierre Fouchenneret (1985)
- Lorenzo Gatto (1986)plays a Jean Baptiste Vuillaume http://www.musiq3.be/programmes/index.htm?date=26/5/2009
- Richard Hendrix (1958) plays an early Cannone copy made in 1828.
- Modigliani quartetModigliani quartetModigliani Quartet is a French string quartet founded in Paris in 2003.- Members :*Philippe Bernhard, Loïc Rio : violins*Laurent Marfaing : viola*François Kieffer : cello- Discography :*SCHUMANN-WOLF-MENDELSSOHN - Nascor, Ysaye Records, 2006...
(2003) plays on a J.B. Vuillaume string quartet "The Evangelists" (1863) - EnAccord String Quartet (1998) plays on 2 violins (1829) and a viola (1867) from J.B. Vuillaume
- Mark O'ConnorMark O'ConnorMark O'Connor is an American bluegrass, jazz, country and classical violinist fiddler, composer and music teacher. O'Connor's music is wide-ranging, critically acclaimed, and he has received numerous awards for both his playing and his composition...
plays an 1830s Vuillaume - Hsiao-mei Ku of the Ciompi QuartetCiompi QuartetThe Ciompi Quartet is a string quartet at Duke University where they were founded in 1965 by Giorgio Ciompi. They have produced twelve recordings since 1991....
performs on a violin made by J.B.Vuillaume - Marinus SnoerenMarinus SnoerenMarinus Arnoldus Johannes Snoeren , was a Dutch cellist who was called the "aristocrat of cellists," on account of his elegant musicianship and majestic sound...
(1976–1983), played on the Vuillaume Cello, currently in hands of Rien Snoeren
Quotes
"Jean Baptiste was born in Mirecourt, where he worked until he was 19. He then went to Paris where the influence of François Chanot led him to approach violin making in a scientific manner. This led to his study of acoustics, analyses of varnishes, and to experimentation of various kinds. He won many prizes and achieved recognition as the greatest technical genius of his time, surpassed in French violin making only by Nicolas LupotNicolas Lupot
Nicolas Lupot - born in Stuttgart, 1758-1824, was one of the most illustrious French Luthier/ Violin Makers of his time. He apprenticed under his father and worked in Orleans until 1794....
." -
Smithsonian Institution
"As to the numbering system, for the most part, his instruments were numbered. But the very fine copies especially those of 'Le Messie' Strad, Guarneri Del Gesu 'Canon' and Del Gesu 'David'(which Ferdinand David owned) and Maggini are without Number(s).
According to Doring's tabulation (made between 1947-1961), Vuillaume made at least 78 instruments between the 1830's and 1874 that he did not recorded by number, that are "outstanding and magnificent." Filimonov Fine Violins - 2007
